Pipe-wrapping machine



May 15. 1928. 1,559,555

' D. FINLEY l PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25. 1925 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 3 inw- Nunn ATTORNEYS D. FINLEY PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE May 15, 192s. l 1,669,555

Filed March 25. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTUMEYS i other pipe Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EozIER EINLEY, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, yAssIeNOR 'ro rr`IIE PARAEEINE 'coin-i PANIEs, INC., OE sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

PIPE-WRAPPING MACHINE.

Application led March 2,3, 1925. Serial No. 17,483.

My "invention relates to machines for Wrappingpipe with a protective covering and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of a pipe wrapping machine of relatively simple construction having `adminimum of specially machined parts so that the machine may b 'built at small expense.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pipe wrapping machine which may be moved from place to place as the needfor it requires.

Another` object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrapping machine in which the mechanism for turning the pipe and advancing it thru the machine is free of the complicated parts which characterize all wrapping machines now known to me.

Another object of the invention is the provision of 'a pi e wrapping machine with which a plurality of Overlapping covering strips is placed on the pipe, one or more of the strips having applied thereto a cementing material for holding the strips in place, such cementing material also being preferably waterproof and decay-proof.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth in the follow- 3" ing description of the preferred form of my invention whichis illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showingmade by lsaid drawings. and descri tion, as I may kadopt variations of the pre erred form within the scope of my invention asv set forth in the claims. i'

Referring to the drawings- Figurel 1 is a plan vieW- of the pipe wrapping machine of my invention, showing a pipe being wrapped therein.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a buggy porting the end of the from the machine.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view thru one end of the machine, the plane of section leing indicated by the broken line 3-3 of Figure 4 is an elevation of a pipe su pporting bracket on the machine, the direction for sup pipe as 1t emerges of the view being indicated by the arrow 4' in Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the pipe `supporting and guide rolls, the direction of the lview being indicated, by the arrow 5 in' Fig. 1.

' Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modi-l l fied portion of my machine, and showing a. nlnethod of applying the cementing materia v In terms of broad inclusion the pipe wrapping machine of my invention comprises a main frame on which is arranged means'for supporting a piece of pipe to be Wrapped and permitting it toturn about andmove'v longitudinally of its axis. The frame is provided with ground contacting wheels so that it may be readily moved about. Movably arranged on the main frame is a secondary frame, upon which are mounted pulleys, on which is an endlessjbelt, one reach of which is adapted to encircle the pipe. A prime mover of any suitable type is also arranged on the movable frame to 'drive the belt.

Means are provided for locking the secondary frame in adjusted position so that the belt is in the desired angular relation to the pipe, movement of the belt then rotating the pipe and advancin it, the rate ofl advance being determined y the angular relation of the belt to the pipe. If the belt is at right angles to thepipe axial rotation only, of the pipe, will occur upon movement of the belt. Upon adjustment of the secondary frame to: positionthe belt at an angle other than to the axis of the pipe, movement of the belt results in a forward movement of the pipe at a rate determined by such angle.

- Also arranged on the main frame are means for supporting rolls of strip material which are drawn onto the pipe in a spiral as the pipe is rotated and advanced. This mounting means is also movable on the main frame so that the angular relation of the wrapping strip to the vpipe machine maybe varied to correspond to the angular relation of the driving belt. Means are also provlded for applying to theI Wrapping strlp as 1t'1s drawn u on the pipe a cementitious material forfholdmg the strip in place and preferably this material is of a bituminous nature so that a high degree of resistance 1s provided] to water and decay or' fungold growths. These latter lcfi'ialities are of. major Importance when the covered pipe is'to be'used unby wheels 3, thus constituting a vehicle o-f conventional from A'which may readily be moved about. Arranged at the rear of the vehicle frame 2 are a pair of upwardly eX- tending guide rolls 6, each mounted on a shaft 7, supported on the frame by a pivot pin 8, and angularly adjustable by means of the slotted arcuate end 9, in conjunction with the clamping nut 10. These guide rolls prevent lateral movement of the pipe 11 in the machine. The4 weight of the pipe is carried by a roll 12, journaled in suitableY bearings 13, and extending under the pipe 1 below the pipe and the other shoe is on the side of the pipe. On the opposite side of the pipe and above the pipe are shoes 19, mounted on studs 21, and resiliently pressed against the pipe by springs 22. The shoes are prevented from rotary -movement by an arm 23, carrying a pin 24, which moves ,within an aperture in the bracket. The resilient shoes are provided to compensate for inequalities and projections which may occur on the pipe as it passes thru the supporting bracket.

Preferably pivotally mounted on the cross piece 26 of the main frame 2, is a secondary frame 27. Suitable. locking means such as the threaded pin 28, passing thru the cross piece 29 of the secondary frame and engaging inl the plate 26, is provided for' fixing the positionof thesecondary frame on the main frame. Journaled in suitable bearings 30 on the secondary frame are two shafts 31 and 32 each carrying a pulley 33 over which a belt 34 is stretched. One reach of the belt is given a turn about the pipe as shown in Fig.`1 so that movement of the belt will rotate the pipe and at the same time move it longitudinally of its axis at a rate corresponding to the angular relation of the belt to the axis. The bearings 30 on which the pulleys are mounted are adjustable to permit the belt to be passed about pipes of different size. Connecting to the shaft 32 by a suitable reduction gearing 36 and clutch `37 is a prime mover 38 of any suitable type.

Mounted at the forward end of the vehicl'e frame is a tank 41 adapted to hold a cementitious material preferably of a bituminous nature which may be kept in a Huid condition by heat from the flues 43 of which there are conveniently two. Each of these ues is of U-form with ends opening on the side wall of the tank. A burner 44 con- Arranged on one side of the pipe is a' frame 48 pivotally mounted on a vertical axis, and provided with a suitable'lockmg pin 49 so that it may be swung mto the desired angular relation with the pipe and 1 secured in that position. Arranged on this frame are a plurality of arborsv 51, each carrying a rol-l 52 of strip material 53. Guide rolls 54 above the level of the tank, and guide rolls 56 within the tank, provide means for directing the covering strips into the material in the tank and upwardly to the pipe. The rolls 52 are offset with relation to each other as shown in Fig. 1 so that the covering strips are applied to the pipe in an overlapping relation, and since the strips are saturated with the bituminous material in the tank they are securely cemented to each other and to the pipe.

Arranged on the opposite side of the pipe is another frame 61 also mounted for movement about a vertical axis and provided with similar locking means 62 for fixing its position. This frame also carries an arbor `63, on which a roll 64 of strip covering material 66 is carried. This strip of covering material does not pass thru any cementitious material but is wound over the other two strips adhering to them and presenting a dry exterior surface. A

A piece of pipe is placed within the machine and the wrapping strips started by proper manipulation with the hands. A second piece of pipe 67 is then supported in alinement with the pipe in the machine, on any suitable means and connected to the pipe in the machine by means of an expanding plug 68 comprising two halves which may be forcibly separated by the screw 69. With the frames carrying the driving belt and the covering strips properly adjusted to the desired angular relation with the pipe, the prime mover 38 is started to feed the pipe thru the machine, successive lengths of pipe being connected by expanding plugs, as the wrapping progresses. The emerging pipe is carried on any suitable supports such as the buggy 71, having ground-contacting wheels 72, and a handle 7 The buggy is provided with "a head 74, on which rollers 76 are journaled in such manner as to engage the interior surface of the pipe at its advancing end. The buggy is in charge of a workman whose duty it is to guide it as the advancing pipe moves it forwardly. As each length of wrapped pipe emerges, the wrapping is out at thejoint and the plug remove In Fig. 6 I have shown an alternative form of apparatus for applying the cementitious material to the covering strip. This structure is useful'` where only a single strip is to be Wound upon the pipe, and 1t is sufficient aeeassa lo apply the cementitious material upon the inner surface of the strip as it reaches the pipe. A tank 8l is suitably supported on the trame and heated by means similar to those already described. rilhe tank is provided with a conduit 82, the end of which is iurnished with a. valve 83, position-ed over and discharging upon the strip Se being wound upon the pipe. rlhe strip is univound `trom a roll 86, carried on a frame 87, mounted to turn on a vertical axis as already explained in connection with the frame 6l.

l claim:

l. A pipe wrapping machinecomprising means for supporting the pipe, a movable frame, pulleys on said frame, an endless belt on said pulle 's and having one reach adapted to encircle tliie pipe, and means ifor driving the belt arranged on said movable frame.

2. pipe Wrapping machine comprising means for supporting the pipe, a movable frame, means on said frame and including an endless belt adapted to encircle the pipe for turning the pipe and simultaneously advancing it thru the machine, a second movable frame, and means on said second frame for holding a supply'oi pipe covering material.

3. A pipe Wrapping machine comprising means for supporting the pipe, a movable frame, means on said frame and including an endless belt adapted to encircle the pipe for turning the pipe and simultaneously advancing it thru the machine,a second movable frame, means on said second frame for holding a supply of pipe covering material, and means for applying to said covering material a cementing material.

4. A pipe wrapping machine comprising a main frame, ground contacting Wheels arranged on said frame, a driving unit frame pivoted on the main frame, means on said driving unit frame and including an endless belt adapted to encircle the pipe for turning the pipe and simultaneously advancing it thru the machine, means arranged on the main i 'aine for feeding a covering strip to said pipe, and means for applying a cementing material to said covering.

A pipe wrapping machine comprising a inain traine, ground contacting Wheels arranged on said iframe, a driving unit frame pivot-ed -on the main iframe, means on said driving unit frame and including an endless belt adapted to encircle the pipe for turning the pipe and simultaneously advancing it thru the machine, a covering strip .tramo pivoted on said main iframe, means on said covering strip `traine for holding a roll of covering material, and means :for applying a cementing material to said covering material.

6. A pipe Wrapping machine comprising means for supporting the pipe, a movable frame, pulleys on said trame, an endless belt adapted to tractionally engage said pipe and arranged lon said pulleys, and means for driving said belt.

7. A pipe wrapping machine comprising means 'for .supporting the pipe, a movable frame, pulleys on said frame., an endless belt adapted to tractionally engage said pipe and arranged on said pulleys, means for driving said belt, a second movable frame, and means on said second frame for holding a supply of pipe covering material.

8. A pipe wrapping machine comprising means 'for supporting the pipe, a movable frame, pulleys on said frame, an endless belt adapt-cd. to tractionally engage said pipe and arranged ou said pulleys, means for driving said belt, means for holding a supply of pipe covering material, and means for applying to said covering material a cementing material.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 

